at Bethesda and the benevolent institutions of our time, we must needs give credit to Christ and his Gospel; else the so-called "Science of Sociology" is at its wits' end.

A few years ago an epoch-making pamphlet appeared with the title "The Bitter Cry of Outcast London." It presented a frightful picture of the shame and suffering of that populous city. It set people thinking about the multitudes who were suffering all about them while they sat by their comfortable firesides. Then a new word was coined: and "slumming" became the proper thing to do. The gentry and the nobility went about visiting the lapsed masses in the East End. Out of that fashion came not a little of wise and permanent beneficence, and with it also much that was shallow and evanescent. There is no real value in merely prying into the inner sanctum of misery. The point is, how can we relieve it?

A better word than "slumming" is evangelizing. For this takes in the betterment of the whole man, body and soul, as an immortal being made in the likeness of God.

The Clinic in Bethesda is over. One of its important lessons is this: it is a grave mistake to go slumming with nothing but bread and a medicinechest. He that would render true and substantial help to the suffering must go to them not only with temporary help for their secular needs, but with the message of Christ, "Come unto me, all

ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Rest is what they want: rest from hunger and heart-ache and all the ills that human flesh is heir to; but more than that, immeasurably more, they need rest from the burden-bearing of the soul, its shame and vain regret, remorse and "certain looking for of judgment."

For this the Son of Man came into the world; and the world will never be at rest, society will never be regenerated, until the last sufferer has heard and believed that "the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins."

8. PRAYER

I thank thee, Lord and Saviour, that thou art the same yesterday, to-day and forever. In thine earthly ministry thou wast called the Good Physician; and from thy throne in glory thou dost still hear the cry for help and minister to the needs of all who call upon thee. I beseech thee for all those who are called to bear any cross or tribulation, that it may please thee to sustain them with the sweet comfort of thy Spirit until thou send a full deliverance; and, meanwhile, by their faith and constancy may they glorify thee. To those who carry the burden of unforgiven sin vouchsafe a vision of thy pardoning grace, that they may rejoice in thee. Take me with thee to Bethesda. Help me to apprehend thy loving

kindness with a faith so vital and practical that I shall be a laborer together with thee in all goodness; and thy name shall have the praise forever. Amen.

9. HYMN: "Go, labor on, spend and be spent." 10. BENEDICTION

Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

TWENTY-SIXTH SERVICE

The Victory of Faith

1. INVOCATION

ORD God of Israel, there is none like unto thee in heaven nor in the earth, who keepest covenant with all them that humbly walk before thee. In thy great goodness thou hast promised to commune with those who seek thy presence. Commune with me now, I pray thee; open unto me the treasures of thy Word; accept my praise and prayer, and bless me, for thy Name's sake. Amen. 2. HYMN: "Jesus, thy Name I love." 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON Joshua 6:1-20.

Hebrews 11:1-30.

4. PRAYER

O God, I thank thee for a place among those who are called and commissioned to work together for the advancement of thy kingdom on earth. No doubt thou couldst have saved the world by the sole exercise of thine omnipotence, flooding it as with a sunburst of glory; but for some inscrutable reason thou hast chosen to accomplish thy pur

pose through the instrumentality of thy people of whom, thanks to thy redeeming grace, I am one. Point me clearly to the place assigned to me and help me to fill it with cheerful zeal and faithfulness. If it be a small place, like that of a caged bird, enable me to serve there without murmuring. I know thou requirest not of a sick man a well man's stint. Help me to do the next thing, though it be only to lie still and suffer, with submissive and joyful acquiescence in thy holy will. Let the service thus rendered, however small, be great in thy kind eyes. Keep me in line with thy purposes concerning me. Help me simply to trust and obey. Pardon my sins, my transgressions and shortcomings, my wilfulness and restless murmuring; for Jesus' sake. Help me to realize for thee the best that is possible for me. Enlarge my influence for good. Widen my views of thy kingdom and deepen my love toward all who have entered into its franchise of citizenship through faith in Christ. Bless the universal Church with a great blessing to-day. Wherever thy word is preached let it not return unto thee void, but accomplish that which thou dost please and prosper in the thing whereunto thou hast sent it. Behold, O Lord, the multitude of sinners who are calling unto thee for salvation. Hear their cry and enable them to trust in thee. Give them a clear vision of thy Cross.